gave Hitler reputation for having created a powerful industry, which had ended unemployment and restored Germany's pride in itself

while true that Germany did perform well down to 1939, Hitler's aim was not economic growth for its own sake

"He was less concerned with improving the living standards of the people than with creating a strong industrial economy that would provide the sinews of war" (91)

Hitler was not an economic planner - he left that to his economics ministers

a) The Policies of Hjalmar Schacht (1934-37)

Appointed Economics minister in 1934 by Hitler

had shown great skill as financier during Weimar R.

his major achievement being stabilizing German currency & ending the catastrophic inflation that hit Germany in 1923

Never became Nazi Party member but admired Hitler and believed he could make G. great again Schacht - “I desire a great and strong Germany and to achieve it I would enter an alliance with the devil.”

Why Schacht had urged major industrial companies companies [ex. Krupp steel and I.G. Farben (the chemical giant)] to support the Nazis in the elections of the early 1930s.

Also urged Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor

“His programme for the recovery of G. economy was complex in detail but simple in its basic aim - financial and economic growth” (Lynch 91)

i) The New Plan (1934)

Schacht introduced the The New Plan (1934) with the aim of ending the high unemployment of the Great Depression

Built on some of the measures introduced in Weimar government

Proposed schemes for creating employment through public works projects (ex. Road repairs, forest clearing and planting, and the building of new hospitals and schools)

(proposal) young men aged 18-25 were required to join the National Labour Service for six months, during which time they would be trained in basic skills and directed to work where it was most needed

Through contacts with big bankers and industrialists he established “Organization of Industry” - a body of business guilds, employers’ associations and finance houses

Org. so successful in promoting trade and industry that a number of countries began to advance loans to germany

“Organization of Industry” was a remarkable achievement because country had struggled desperately since 1918 to raise capital for itself

ii) Rearmament

Since Hitler’s main objective was the expansion of Germany’s military strength, Schacht knew that he would have to provide funds for rearmament” (92)

Schacht didn't want arms spending to drain away vital funds and thereby undermine economic recovery so he proposed that rearmament be introduced in stages as economy improved (“strengthened”) - began to work; by 1935 funding was becoming available

But too slow for Hitler → Fuhrer memorandum of Aug. 1936 asserted - “If we do not succeed in bringing the German army as rapidly as possible to the rank of the premier army in the world then G will be lost.” → Schacht was bypassed in favour of Hermann Goering who was given task of pushing G to rapid militarization

b) Goering's 4 Year Plan (1936-39)

Goering had given task of pushing Germany to rapid militarization

His first move was introducing Four-Year Plan (Oct. 1936) → chief aim was to make Germany an autarky (an economically self-sufficient nation)

Targets set to achieve aim:

- “The bringing of Germany’s labour force under tighter control so that it could be directed into vital areas such as arms production”
- “Increased use of import controls to protect German manufacturers”
- “The production of synthetic substitutes for rubber and oil to avoid these essentials having to be imported” (92)

The pure Aryan stereotype included only those Germans who were physically fit with an obedient mind to serve the Reich

These minorities were persecuted as Nazis saw them as a threat and burden to the Aryan race.

They were also seen something ‘useless’ to society and unworthy for life.

a) How were they persecuted? - Sterilisation Programme

“Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring” (1933) - the sterilisation of all people who suffered from diseases considered hereditary

By 1939 - around 350 000 sterilizations had taken place

Most people targeted by the law were patients in mental hospitals and other institutions

Majority were between the ages of twenty and forty

Did not target racial groups (although Gypsies were sterilized as “asocials”)→ Led to T-4 Programme

b) How were they persecuted? - Euthanasia (T-4) Programme (elimination of defectives)

"The Nazi regime used the term as a euphemism: its aim was to exterminate the mentally ill and the handicapped, thus "cleansing" the "Aryan" race of persons considered genetically defective and a financial burden to society.”

Some physicians active in the study of eugenics saw Nazism as “applied biology” → enthusiastically endorsed program (Darwinism - survival of the fittest)

However, the criteria for inclusion in this program were not exclusively genetic → important criterion was economic → Nazi officials assigned people to this program largely based on their economic productivity

i) Conclusion: success or failure? - Resistance to the T-4 Programme

some doctors refused to participate in the programme

However, most doctors and nurses remained silent and participated

Many people demanded explanations for the deaths of their relatives

Strong-arm tactics were used to silence the inhabitants of the areas near the extermination centres who asked what was going on

If they continued to complain they would be imprisoned

ii) Conclusion: success or failure? - Religious Protests

For example: Clemens (Bishop) Von Galen

"We are not dealing with machines, horses and cows whose only function is to serve mankind. No were are dealing with human beings, our fellow human beings, our brothers and sister, with poor people, with sick people, with unproductive people. But have they for that reason forfeited the right to life? Have you, have I, the right to live only so long as we are productive, so long as we are recognised by others as productive?"

6 - The Status of WomenRole of WomenWhy did Hitler have these policies?- Ideological: rejection of ideas about female emancipation (end of 1920s)

- Criticism on ‘modern’ ideas about women (Weimar Republic)

- Pragmatic: Need to increase birth rate

- Birth rate was in decline
- Big and strong population needed to conquer and populate the ‘Lebensraum’ in the East

a) MotherhoodRestrictions on women

The number of women allowed into university was restricted

Employers were encouraged to employ men in favour of women

Married women were excluded from civil service and other professions

Increase in births

Medals (‘Honor Cross’) any women with 8 children received a gold medal from Hitler himself 1

Generous welfare payments for mothers

Aryan women were offered a free marriage loan: payment fell by ¼ with each child born, only if women didn’t work [also restriction]

Abortion was restricted and the use of birth control for Aryans was condemned

Divorce was made easier for childless couples

Healthy babies

1933 Sterilisation law against all those with a hereditary disease/mental health problems (320,000 sterilized 1933-45)

Advice was given on which type of partners women should marry

Motherhood skills taught by the “Women’s enterprise” (DFW)

Lebensborn program: SS men to fertilise single women to ‘donate a baby’ to the Fuhrer [also increase in births]

b) Impact of War

5 - German WorkersDAF - German Labour Front - Deutsche Arbeitsfront

Replaced other trade unions

Set up after ban trade unions, strict control over workers

- No strikes allowed
- No more laws for minimum wage/working hours

Led by Robert Ley

Membership included employers and employees

Key to achieving Volksgemeinschaft

- Restoring social peace
- Increasing production
- Win workers over for Nazism